The Lions have the best receiver in the game in Johnson and have spent a second-round pick on the position each of the last two years. But they still have a big need for a pass catcher. Titus Young flamed out because of behavioral problems, Ryan Broyles is coming off his second torn ACL and Burleson and Mike Thomas are best as slot receivers. The Lions need a true No. 2 who can stretch the field and take advantage of the one-on-one looks he'll get opposite Johnson. At tight end, both Pettigrew and Scheffler are in the last year of their contracts and the Lions haven't re-signed Will Heller yet. They're in the market for help at the position, and could take one anytime after the first round.

Top 5 WR prospects

1. Tavon Austin, W. Virginia

2. Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee

3. Justin Hunter, Tennessee

4. Keenan Allen, Cal

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

Top 5 TE prospects

1. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

2. Zach Ertz, Stanford

3. Gavin Escobar, San Diego State

4. Travis Kelce, Cincinnati

5. Vance McDonald, Rice

Draft scuttle

Patterson might be the most talented receiver in the draft, but he's raw as a prospect -- having played just one season of Division I football -- and comes with some character concerns. He took a pre-draft visit to the Lions, but some team is bound to take a gamble on his talent in Round 1. Austin, Hunter and USC's Robert Woods also visited the Lions. The first two are probable first-round picks, while Woods could be available at Pick 36 in the second round. Allen is polished, but he's coming off a knee injury that's caused his stock to dip. There's not a Calvin Johnson-type playmaker in this class, but receiver is deep enough that teams will find help in Rounds 2-4 with prospects like Terrance Williams and Markus Wheaton. At tight end, Eifert and Ertz are the best in the class. Eifert is a better blocker and should go in the first round. Ertz has excellent ball skills and could intrigue the Lions in Round 2.

We have a bunch of chats for you leading up to the NFL draft this week. Click on the name to submit a question: Michael Atkinson of Boise State and Windsor (1 p.m. Monday), Darren Keyton of CMU (1 p.m. Tuesday), Latavius Murray of UCF (11 a.m. Wednesday), Joe Glendening of Hillsdale (noon Wednesday), Reid Fragel of Grosse Pointe and OSU (1 p.m. Wednesday) and Lions writer Dave Birkett (11 a.m. Thursday). Also join us for live blogs of the first three rounds.